ATP and Energy

Question 1

What is ATP?

Answer 1

Adenosine triphosphate.
A nucleotide with 3 phosphate groups.
The universal energy currency of cells.

Question 2

What base and sugar is in ATP/ADP?

Answer 2

Sugar is ribose. Base is adenine.

Question 3

What type of reaction releases energy from ATP?

Answer 3

A hydrolysis reaction.

Question 4

What type of reaction is it when ATP is made by adding one phosphate group to ADP?

Answer 4

Condensation reaction/ Phosphorylation.

Question 5

Why don’t cells store large amounts if ATP?

Answer 5

It contains unstable phosphate bonds so it isn’t a good long-term energy store.

Question 6

ATP is small. Why does this make it ideally suited?

Answer 6

It can move easily in and out of and within cells.

Question 7

ATP is water soluble. Why does this make it ideally suited?

Answer 7

Processes that require energy happen in water.

Question 8

ATP contains bonds with intermediate energy. Why does this make it ideally suited?

Answer 8

It is large enough to be used by the cell but not so large that energy is wasted as heat.

Question 9

ATP releases energy in small quantities. Why does this make it ideally suited?

Answer 9

The amount released is enough for most cellular needs.

Question 10

ATP is easily regenerated. Why does this make it ideally suited?

Answer 10

It can be recharged with energy.

Question 11

What do cells require energy for?

Answer 11

1) Synthesis of large molecules like proteins.
2) Transport pumping molecules across membranes by active transport.
3) Movement of muscle cells by protein fibres.